BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah Review: Our River Dining Day

Thinking about an adventurous meal in a river? Wondering if BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is worth it? You’ve come to the right place.

I lived in Kuala Lumpur for over a year with my family and in Malaysia for almost two years. During that time, we had to visit BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah to see what the fuss is about!

This was the right choice. After all, who can resist a BBQ dinner in the middle of a river? We sure couldn’t.

BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is a unique BBQ restaurant located near Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If you’re looking for something unique and adventurous, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah should be on your list.

What is BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah?

BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is a restaurant well-known among locals in Kuala Lumpur for its delicious BBQ lamb dishes.

Since it was opened by a nature-loving local couple, the restaurant has become a favorite for both local and international visitors alike.

The barbeque specialties are cooked to perfection over a charcoal grill and served with fragrant rice, pickles, and an array of sauces. Aside from BBQ lamb, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah also serves up beef, chicken and fish dishes.

What really sets BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah apart from other BBQ restaurants in Kuala Lumpur is its unique dining experience.

Guests eat their BBQ dishes while sitting in a shallow river with water flowing up to their calves. It is a great way to beat the heat and have an unforgettable BBQ experience in Malaysia.

The atmosphere is also amazing. BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is located in the middle of a jungle and guests can enjoy the sounds of nature including birds chirping and water flowing in the background.

Our BBQ experience at BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah certainly lived up to expectations and we highly recommend it for anyone looking for a BBQ experience like no other.

BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah at a Glance

Address: Jalan Taman Zooview, Kampung Kemensah, 68000 Ampang, Selangor
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thu & Sat 10AM-7PM | Tue 12PM-11PM | Sun 12PM-7PM
Telephone/Whatsapp: +60 12-211 4100
BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah Facebook

Pro Tip: Text them in advance to make a reservation. Seats fill quickly, especially on weekends!

If you don’t make a reservation, there is a very good chance that you’ll miss your chance to eat here. We went at noon on a Wednesday and still saw people waiting for quite a while to hope for a table.

Getting to BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah

There is a parking lot at BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah but it’s not very big. During busy times, there is nowhere to park.

We didn’t own a car, so we just took a Grab. If you don’t want to worry about parking, I’d recommend this option. The driver got us there pretty easily from our apartment in Setiawangsa.

Getting a Grab back from BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah afterward wasn’t too bad. We waited less than ten minutes for a driver to arrive.

If you’re taking public transit, both the 220 and 253 bus routes pass near BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah.

Arriving at BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah

When we arrived, the restaurant had just opened for lunch and had a short queue of people. It moved quickly, though.

Little Man had just enough time to greet one of the local cats. They love him everywhere we go! We were greeted warmly by the staff and taken to our seats almost immediately.

The day was sunny, so we were given wooden sun hats to wear during our meal. That was a unique photo opp for sure!

Dining at BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah

Of course, since it’s always hot in KL the cold river felt really good! I was a bit surprised that it was so, so cold though.

Little Man took his feet out of the river and propped them on the stool footrest a few times throughout the meal because he got too cold. I felt fine, though.

When the staff takes you to your table, they also show you where to put your shoes. Make sure to wear flip-flops or other sandals that are easy to remove.

Your feet will be wet after you eat, so leave your nice, leather shoes at home. Or bring a towel.

BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah Menu

Contrary to its name, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah doesn’t just serve lamb! You can choose from various cuts of lamb, beef, chicken, fish, and duck. All their options are halal, too.

In addition to choosing your preferred meats, you get to select side dishes like fries and rice. There are also a variety of sauces to select as a complement to your meat choices.

I’ll be honest, it was kind of overwhelming on our first visit. Thankfully, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah offers meal sets!

Their lunch set serves two people and their dinner set serves four people. Each one includes duck and beef tenderloin. The lunch set also includes short rib while the dinner set also includes lamb and chicken.

The Meat Set includes grilled duck, chicken, lamb, and beef. It serves up to three people.

Eating at BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah

We wanted to try everything, so we ordered the meat set, mostly because I couldn’t decide what to order. It was a good choice and definitely enough to feed the three of us with a bit of takeaway for later.

The restaurant also offers a kid set, but Little Man didn’t want just rice and chicken, so he ate from the ‘adult set’ we ordered. And he loved it!

The food options aren’t just limited to the meat either. Take advantage of the complimentary cold treats that come with your meals.

Refresh yourself with a cool glass of refillable teh-o, or indulge in some sweet watermelon slices and evaporated milk with ice and agar-agar – which tastes just like bubble milk tea!

These delightful drinks and desserts will help you beat the heat while satisfying your taste buds. Little Man tried to steal my teh-o until he realized he could get refills!

BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah Ambiance

Dining in a river isn’t something you find just anywhere. BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah definitely offers a unique experience. The staff was accommodating and attentive to our needs, contrary to what I read in some TripAdvisor reviews.

The restaurant is decorated with rustic, wooden furniture and plenty of greenery for an Instagram-worthy aesthetic. I’ll be honest, the chairs were a bit uncomfortable after a while.

But you’re dining right in nature and the furniture needs to hold up to the constantly running water, so it’s important to remember that it’s built to last not for aesthetics.

It’s a great place to hang out and take photos if BBQ is not your thing – although why wouldn’t it be? BBQ is amazing and this family-owned place is really unique.

Pros & Cons of BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah

This is a review so I have to give the pros and cons, right? Clearly, we loved our experience, but we went in with no substantive expectations.

What we loved, you might not. So here’s the scoop:

Overall, the pros far outweighed the cons. And almost everything we didn’t love is not the fault of the restaurant.

The stools and tables are rustic, and the rocks in the river make them tricky to balance sometimes. And we were dining in a jungle stream, so of course there will be bugs.

While the prices were higher than I’d expect for the outskirts of KL, this is lower than other experiential dining we’ve done. You’re paying for the river upkeep and experience just as much as the food.

Pro Tip: Go here with reasonable expectations and a plan to spend at least 60RM/person, and you’re far more likely to enjoy yourself.

BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah: FAQs

These are some questions I’ve been asked about BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah since we went there. If I’m missing any you’re wondering about, feel free to contact us so I can add it to this list!

Does BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah take reservations?

Yes, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah accepts reservations. They also accommodate walk-ins but I don’t recommend this based on how long we saw walk-ins wait on a week day.

Is the river clean at BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah?

Yes, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is built on a natural, flowing river and the staff do their best to keep it clean.

Occasionally, you’ll see a patron rinse their hands in the river or drop things in it on accident. But the river is always flowing. You don’t need to worry about cleanliness.

Is BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah safe for kids?

Yes, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is family-friendly. We ate with a kid who was almost eight at the time, and it was perfect. However, be extra cautious with younger kids under 4 because they are may slip on the river rocks.

There is also a small pool that kids can swim in adjacent to the river. I didn’t see a lifeguard when we were there, so plan to supervise your kids if they want to swim there.

Conclusion: BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah Review

If you’re looking for something unique and exciting to do in Kuala Lumpur, BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is the perfect spot!

With its cool river, delicious BBQ, and free drinks to help you beat the heat, it’s a great spot for lunch or dinner.

The food was flavorful and filling, the atmosphere was fun, the staff was helpful and accommodating, and Little Man had a blast.

We did some really cool things while we lived there, from KL staycations at hotels with rooftop pools to enjoying short getaways at some of the best resorts in Malaysia.

Yes, there were some uncomfortable chairs and slippery rocks in the river, but BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah is definitely worth a visit. Just remember to bring your sense of adventure and a camera!